New Brunswick veterans accounted for more than 42 per cent of medical marijuana reimbursements paid by Veterans Affairs Canada last year, CBC News has learned.

New Brunswick had the largest number of veterans reimbursed for medical marijuana by Veterans Affairs Canada last year, accounting for about one-third of the nation-wide total. (Mel Evans/Associated Press)

This, despite the fact that only about 4.6 per cent of all Canadian Forces veterans currently live in the province, according to estimates from the federal government.

Veterans in New Brunswick received $2,239,738 in 2014-2015, figures obtained from Veterans Affairs Canada show.

By comparison, the total payments across the country during the same period amounted to $5,225,107.

On the road to legalizing medical marijuana nation-wide, the US seems to have plateaued at 23 states. Only three states passed legislation in 2014; Maryland, Minnesota and New York. That was a year ago. Since June 2014, nothing. Seventeen states introduced legislation or ballot measures to legalize medical marijuana in 2015; all failed to exit the infinite loop holding patients hostage.

But there is a glimmer of hope. In the first half of the year, six states — Virginia, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Delaware — signed legislation permitting the use of CBD-heavy cannabis oils for specific conditions. While there are strict limitations in each of these cases, it is progress, and therefore deserves further examination.

What is CBD?

It is becoming easier to get marijuana, legally. In the last 20 years or so, 23 states, as well as the District of Columbia, have passed laws that make it legal to use marijuana for medical treatments. So have some countries, like Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Israel, Portugal and Spain.

Some pet owners are claiming that hemp-based treats cure many of their pets’ ailments. The treats are infused with cannabinoids or CBDs but don’t have THC, so the animal doesn’t get high. One of the hemp-based treat brands called Treatibles has been used by some owners for anxiety or stress in their dogs. Andrew Mizia stated that his dog Fred can be stressed when around other dogs, and he stated the following regarding the result when he gives the canine the treat, according to ABC Channel 7.

Google has removed a medical marijuana app, which allowed Californians to purchase weed from local growers, from its Play store.

The app, developed by Green Exchange had said Google approved the 'Loud Cannabis' service and that the program had been available for several months before it was pulled. It allowed people who use marijuana for medical reasons to connect with growers and arrange to have the drug delivered to them, which is legal in California.

Loud Cannabis app was pulled after several months on the Google Play store

Mike Latona, left, and his son Christopher, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder since returning from Army service in Afghanistan, on Wednesday testified in support of approving medical marijuana for treatment of the disorder.(Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)

Re: “Colorado board votes no on allowing medical marijuana for PTSD,” July 16 news story.

I am a Vietnam veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It took me years to figure the problem out and a couple more for the drugs to take effect. I wasn’t capable of dealing with society, but after a few years of the correct drugs, managing society became tolerable.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It’s a 400-mile, seven-hour, $100 or more journey from Maria Botker’s home in tiny Clinton to the nearest clinic where she can buy medical marijuana — the only drug that does the trick for her daughter’s rare and aggressive seizure disorder.

In addition to the medicine’s high cost, the short list of qualifying conditions and the difficulty in getting a doctor’s approval to sign up, there’s one more thing making the program difficult for Minnesota patients. Some have to come an awfully long way to get it, with only two of eight dispensaries opening since the July 1 launch.

A “smoke-in” in support of Winnipeg’s only medical marijuana dispensary is planned to take place just outside Winnipeg police headquarters Monday morning.

The peaceful protest at the Public Safety Building on Princess Street follows two visits Glenn Price said police made to his store, Your Medical Marijuana Headquarters, on Tuesday and Thursday of last week. The store owner says police are trying to force him to stop selling the medical weed because he has not been approved by Health Canada.

One would think that with medical marijuana now legal in 23 states, the science to support its efficacy would be fairly definitive. Surprisingly, that's not the case.

Only smoke-free medical marijuana, sold as pills, oils or tinctures, will be available for qualifying patients.

Jessica Blake has been battling a potentially deadly brain tumor for months. The former Esko high school teacher lives in Duluth, where her parents have moved in to help care for her.

It’s been tough lately. Blake can’t keep most medicine down, and the conventional drug she got from her doctor didn’t work.

“It actually gave me hallucinations,” she recalled. “It was terrifying. I don’t ever want to experience that again.” The hallucinations went on for two days.

“When Jessica said that was two lost days, that’s very difficult,” said her mother, Kathleen Blake. “Because she is not sure how much time she has.”